Fabricating machine



y 1962 w. MASON 3,033,267

FABRICATING MACHINE Filed Dec. 16, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. William Mason W. MASON FABRICATING MACHINE May 8, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 16, 1958 1 direction.

United States Patent Ofifice 7 3,033,267 Patented May 8, 1962 3,033,267 FABRICATING MACHINE William Mason, Oakland, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Vinnell Corporation, a corporation of California Filed Dec. 16, 1958, Ser. No. 780,844 4 Claims. (Cl. 153-38) This invention relates to a new and improved fabricating machine for straightening, bending and formingv metal. More particularly the machine provides a table on which work may be mounted and a horizontal reciprocating ram inside the table. Both the table and ram may be provided with posts or pins which engage the workpiece so that fabricating operations may be performed on it when the ram is caused to reciprocate. Thus the machine has wide applicability in welding and forging shops, pipe shops, shops fabricating reinforcing bars, steel fabricating works, ship yards, jobbing and tractor repair shops and many other locations.

A particular feature and advantage of the machine is the fact that it provides a basic two direction movement for every bending, straightening and forming operation.

Another feature of the invention is its Wide adjustability to actuate many different types of work. In the particular embodiment hereinafter described, four lug pins or posts can be placed in any one of 26 positions on the stationary table. At the same time, two additional posts controlled by the hydraulic ram can be placed in any one of three holes. It will be understood that aperture plates making up the table and receiving the pins may be formed in a wide variety of patterns although the particular pattern illustrated and described in the present invention has been found particularly advantageous.

Still another feature of the invention is the fact that adaptors are provided to fit over each pin or post to reduce the space between the pin and adjacent pins and to reduce the effective working width between posts. This feature of the invention reduces the required amplitude movement of the ram with certain sizes of work pieces and thus promotes maximum efliciency of operation.

Another advantage of the invention is the provision of a remote control for operation of the ram. This permits the operator to stand away from the machine in a position so that he can sight along the lengthof a truss or beam to determine when the member is straight. By pushing the work to the point where bending is required and controlling the actuation of the ram from the remote position of sighting, the accuracy of the straightening operation is greatly improved.

Prior straightening tools have operated only in one Where errors have occured when the work is bent beyond the required degree and where it must be rebent in the opposite direction, the work must be revolved and re-run through the machine. A particular feature of the invention is the fact that the two direction movement of the ram permits the work to be bent in either direction Without removing the work piece or revolving it. Pressure can be applied by the ram in forward or reverse stroke.

It will be apparent that the machine may also be used for bending pipe and reinforcing bar to required shapes and radii, removing pressed shafts from gear or wheel hubs, acting as a fitting jig for clamping work while welding tapered beams and the like.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a top plan of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a schematic top plan showing the device in one of its positions of use.

The machine which is the subject of this invention is provided with a table 11 made up of a top plate 12 and a bottom plate 13. The plates 12 .and 13 are spaced apart by means of a plurality of longitudinal and transverse spacers 14 and 16 respectively. Members 14 and 16 are preferably channels having a width sufficient to space the plates the required distance. Plates 12 and 13 may be generally cruciform in plan with long radii of curvature at all the corners, as best shown in FIG. 1. This shape enables the operator to have access to all parts of the table without having to climb on it. Each plate 12 and 13 is formed with a central longitudinal elongated slot 17, the slot 17 being vertically aligned. The bottom plate 13 is supported by means of posts 18 at the desired level above the floor, it being understood that the machine may be sunk in a pit so that the top plate 12 is at floor level if desired. The posts 18 are preferably four in number and spaced at the corners of the table 11. Between the posts are vertically disposed plates 1? which support various actuating members for the hydraulic system hereinafter described.

Extending longitudinally between the top and bottom plates 12 and 13 is a horizontally disposed sub frame 21 which extends out beyond the ends of table 11. Sub frame 21 is formed with a pair of opposed spaced channels 22 having vertical webs tied together at their outer ends by horizontal transverse tie bars 23 to form a relatively rigid, heavy structure. The distance between members 22 is substantially greater than the Width of slots 17. Reciprocating in the slideway formed between the members 22 and between plates 12 and 13 is a ram member 24 which consists of a top and bottom plate 26 and 27 respectively joined together in a rigid structure by vertical plates 28. Thus a controlled longitudinal horizontal movement of the ram is assured. A pair of hydraulic cylinders 29 are mounted on opposite ends of subframe 21. An eye 31 on the outer end of each cylinder is engaged by the tie bar 23. The piston rod 32 projecting inwardly from each cylinder 29 is formed with an eye 33 which receives pin 34 the ends of which are held in plates 28. Thus reciprocation of the piston in cylinder 29 causes the ram 24 to reciprocate between plates 12 and 13. Each cylinder 29 is double acting and is controlled by hydraulic fluid pumped through pipes 36 and 37. The arrangement of the two cylinders 29 is such that when one piston rod 32 is projected, the other is retracted an identical distance.

A pump shown generally by reference numeral 38 and driven by an electric motor (not shown) which is controlled by a control box 39 mounted on one of the plates 19 energizing cylinders 29. An elongated electric cord 41 having a manual control 42 at its outer end enables the operator to stop and start the pump 38 and to turn it in either direction so that cylinders 29 are properly energized to perform the required fabrication.

Each of the plates 12 and 13 is formed with a plurality of vertical axis holes 46 on either side of the machine. The particular pattern illustrated in FIG. 1 has been found desirable. Thus at the center are three holes' 46a in transverse alignment. On either side of the holes 46a are three similar holes 46b. Likewise in transverse alignment outside of the holes 46b are two holes 46c which are staggered between the holes 4612. Any one of the holes 46 receives a pin or post 47 which has a diameter such that it will slip in the aligned holes 46 in the plates 12 and 13. Preferably the holes in plate 13 are of lesser diameter than in plate 12 and the lower end of the pin 47 is of reduced diameter so that it is prevented from falling through. At the same time, the ram plates 26 and 27 are provided with three vertical axis holes 43 in longitudinal alignment. The holes 43 are preferably of greater diameter than the holes 46 and receive center posts 49 of greater diameter than pins 47.

In many instances the pins 4'7 and 49 are sufiicient to perform the necessary bending operations. However, when relatively thin members are being bent, adaptors 51 or 52 may be employed. The adaptors 51 and 52 are essentially the same in construction except that the adaptors 51 are smaller and are used with pins 47 while the adaptors 52 are used with posts 49. The adaptors are preferably stored in a rack 53 on the side of the table 11 supported from plates 19. Each of the adaptors consists of a round band or collar 54 which is shaped to fit over the top of a post and a vertically disposed heavy bar 56 which fits along the side of the particular pin 47 or post 49. The lower end of the bar 56 is provided with a reduced diameter pin 57 which may fit in any of the small holes 58 in plate 12 or holes 59 in plate 26 to keep the bar 56 from twisting out of place. Holes 58 and 59 are located in proximity to holes 46 and 48.

In order to move the work on to the table 11 with facility, on either side is mounted a roller 61, the top surface of which is slightly above the top surface of plate 12. Roller 61 has at either end a pin 62 which is received in a bracket 63, attached to table 11. Thus work de posited on the machine may be rolled endwise to the proper location for the straightening, bending or other forming operation required. To prevent injury to the workman, a long, chamfered, oval plate 66 is preferably attached to the ram 24 and positioned above the plate 12. Plate 66 is apertured in alignment with the holes 48 and moves with the ram but blocks off the slots 17.

In use, the operator places the work on or above the table 11 either manually or by means of a crane. If desired, the work piece may be rested on the rollers 61. Pins 47 are placed in the proper holes 46 and likewise pins 49 are placed on the proper holes 48 depending upon the size of the work piece and the particular operation to be performed. A preferred pattern employs four pins 47, two on each side of the work and on each side of the table along with two pins 49, one on each side of the work. Where required, adapters 51 or 52 may be slipped over pins 47 or 49 to reduce the space between the pin and the work piece and thus reduce the distance by which the ram 24 must be moved. Where straightening is required, the work may be moved transversely of the machine from point to point along its length and bent wherever straightening must be accomplished. When the work piece is in position, the operator pushes the proper button of control 42 which turns pump 38 into proper direction to energize cylinders 29 to project one piston rod 32 and to retract the other, thereby moving the ram 24 in a longitudinal direction and applying a bending force to the work piece when one of the posts 49 or adapters 52 is forced against the restraining movement of the stationary pins 47. The posts 49 are preferably positioned on opposite sides of the work piece so that if the work is bent too much, the ram 24 can be reversed and the work piece be straightened.

Proper selection of the location of posts 47 and 49 and the versatility of control of the ram 24 enables a single machine to be employed for a wide variety of fabricating operations as hereinbefore mention.

FIG. 4 illustrates use of the machine to straighten a curved beam 71 shown in curved form in solid lines and in the eventual straightened form in dished lines. Posts 47a and 47b are inserted in appropriate holes 4612 in the table 11. Additionally, a post 49a is installed in the center hole 48 in ram 24 and a second post 49b is installed in the left hand hole in the ram. An adapter 52a is inserted over post 49a in order to reduce the necessary travel of ram 24. Ram 24 is moved to the left, as shown in FIG. 4, causing spacer 560 on adapter 49a to bear against beam 71 at its point of maximum deflection. Movement of ram 24 causes the beam 71 to be bent from the solid line position to the dotted line position. Spacers 56a and 56b on adapters 51a and 51b which are installed on posts 470 and 47d limit the bending movement of beam 71 so that it assumes a straight position and does not deflect greater than the necessary amount.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail by Way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, it is understood that certain changes and modifications may be practiced within the spirit of the invention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described, a stationary table formed with an elongated central aperture and at least four vertical first apertures arranged in a pattern on opposite sides of said central aperture, means S pporting said table, a subframe disposed below the top of said table in line with said central aperture and extending laterally outwardly from either end of said table, said subframe having horizontally disposed ways on either side of said central aperture, a ram reciprocable in said ways, said ram formed with a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertical second apertures, a first hydraulic cylinder mounted on one end of said subframe and connected to said ram, a second hydraulic cylinder mounted on the opposite end of said subframe and connected to said ram, said cylinders being cooperable to move said ram from end to end of said table along said Ways, a pair of first posts positionable in a first pair of said first apertures on opposite sides of said central aperture and on the same side of a reference line transverse to the direction of reciprocation of said ram as said first cylinder, a pair of second posts positionable in a second pair of first ap rtures on opposite sides of said central aperture and on the same side of said reference line as said second cylinder, and a third pair of second posts positionable in said second apertures on opposite sides of said reference line, and means for actuating said cylinders simultaneously.

2. A machine according to claim 1 which further comprises an attachment for at least one of said posts, said attachment having a collar fitting around said post and a spacer bar depending from said collar and abutting said posts for substantially its entire length.

3. A machine according to claim 1 in which positioning apertures are formed in said table adjacent said first apertures and said bar is formed with a projection fitting into said positioning aperture.

4. In a machine according to claim 1 a plate carried by said ram and overlying a portion of said table to continuously close off said central aperture as said ram reciprocates.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 452,960 Tennant May 26, 1891 980,047 Benster Dec. 27, 1910 1,889,187 Wochner Nov. 29, 1932 2,867,261 Traupmann Jan. 6, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 657,971 Great Britain Oct. 3, 1951 

